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Right now, folks dream of Thursday and all the mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and turkey the holiday offers. Local Flavor loves a Thanksgiving meal just as much as the next person, but today it’s all about the other white meat: pork.
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Bellies won't be the only thing growing in Mayfield this month thanks to an annual summer tradition serving up corn, clams and other goodies.

This year's William Walker Hose Company Corn and Clam Slam, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday, July 20, will help fund the fire company's building expansion, giving it much-needed relief from the tight quarters in which it currently works. Construction on the expansion will begin the day after the festival ends.

"Our vehicles are like nose to tail inside our building," said Karen Bowerman of Carbondale Twp., the company's public-relations officer. "We have to back a vehicle out in order to get another vehicle out. ... Our vehicles have caused us to outgrow our building."

Started in 1995

The fundraiser, held at the fire company's grounds at 803 Penn Ave. in the Upvalley borough, continues a tradition started in 1995 when the group decided to hold a picnic the day before its annual chicken barbecue. The fire company eventually dropped the chicken barbecue and expanded the Corn and Clam Slam to its current four-day format, which also features live entertainment each night, a firemen's parade, raffles and homemade food. Admission and parking are free.

In addition to the traditional corn and clams, the festival includes classic picnic foods like hamburgers, steak sandwiches, pierogies, fried dough and funnel cakes. Having all homemade food adds something special to the festival, Mrs. Bowerman noted, because guests can see the noodles and cabbage and know a family made them, and the fried dough "is being rolled there in front of you."

Entertainment starts at 8 each night, kicking off with Johnson on Wednesday. Rounding out the lineup will be Aim & Fire on Thursday, July 18; the Jeffrey James Band on Friday, July 19; and Jigsaw Johnny on Saturday, July 20.

"They're some of the best bands," said Mrs. Bowerman, who has even received requests from bands outside of Pennsylvania interested in performing at the Corn and Clam Slam.

The festival will wrap up on Saturday with a firemen's parade through Mayfield that kicks off at 7 p.m.

"The first year that I participated I even got a little emotional over all these companies that came to support us," Mrs. Bowerman recalled. "It was just very moving. (There was) just truck after truck, ambulances and fire trucks and all the personnel that goes with those trucks."

Support appreciated

Mrs. Bowerman said she wants people to know how much the fire company appreciates the community's support. In addition to the droves who turn up every year for the festivities, volunteers help the 35 members of the all-volunteer fire company put on the event, and businesses donate to the raffles. All of the money raised from the festival goes back into the company, also helping fund its equipment and vehicle care, members' continuing education, equipment purchases and operating costs.

"The support that we get really just from everyone, the general citizens, the average citizens, the police, the borough council, everybody and the businesses, everybody supports us," Mrs. Bowerman said. "And that's really important."

Contact the writer: cheaney@timesshamrock.com, @cheaneyTT on TwitterIf you go

What: William Walker Hose Company annual Corn and Clam Slam

When: Wednesday through Saturday, July 20, 5 p.m. Entertainment starts at 8 p.m., and a firemen's parade will take place July 20 at 7 p.m.

Where: Company grounds, 803 Penn Ave., Mayfield

Details: Parking and admission are free. For more information, visit www.cornnclamslam.com.

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